Are We There Yet? Preserving Roadside Architecture and Attractions

April 10 - April 12, 2018

Tulsa, OK

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April 10-12, 2018Tulsa, Oklahoma

The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) hosted a three-day symposium on the preservation of roadside architecture and attractions that are uniquely American. The symposium focused on the preservation of these buildings and features that catered to tourists who traveled American roads during the 1920s-1970s.

The symposium brought together architects, engineers, landscape architects, site managers, conservators, facility managers, and other cultural resource professionals to discuss issues related to the preservation of roadside features, such as:

Unusual and oversized structures and sculptures

Roadside attractions and theme parks

Motels and gas stations

Roadside signs

Grass roots preservation

Interpretation

The symposium was organized by NCPTT, the Friends of NCPTT and the NPS Route 66 Corridor Program, City of Tulsa, and the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture.

TUESDAY

Keynote Speaker: Michael Wallis

It has been said, “Reading a Michael Wallis book is like dancing to a romantic ballad. He offers his hand and gently guides you across the floor, swaying to the song of the American West.”

A storyteller who likes nothing better than transporting audiences across time and space, Michael has published nineteen books, including the award winning Route 66: The Mother Road, the book credited with sparking the resurgence of interest in the highway. He also wrote The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast from Times to the Golden Gate. Michael’s latest book is the critically acclaimed best-seller The Best Land Under Heaven: The Donner Party in the Age of Manifest Destiny — was published in June 2017.

A best-selling author and award-winning reporter, Michael is a historian and biographer of the American West who also has gained international notoriety as a speaker and voice talent. In 2006 Michael’s distinctive voice was heard in CARS, an animated feature film from Pixar Studios. Michael also is featured in CARS 2, and CARS 3. Michael is a co-founder of the non-profit preservation organization the Route 66 Alliance, and remains an advocate for all historic roads and trails.

His work has appeared in hundreds of national and international magazines and newspapers, including Time, Life, People, Smithsonian, The New Yorker, and The New York Times. Michael and his wife, Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis, have lived in Tulsa since 1982.

Opening Reception

The Vault Restaurant, Tulsa, Oklahoma

The opening reception was held at the Vault is located in the former First National Auto Bank building, built between 1958-1959. The iconic mid-century modern building was the world’s largest auto bank with six drive through lanes. The Tom Tom room was the bank’s private conference room, said to have held over 350 meetings a year.

WEDNESDAY

Keynote Speaker: Dylan Thuras

Dylan Thuras is the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, a multimedia company and “Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders” visited by over five million monthly users, co-author of NY Times #1 best seller Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders, and author of the forthcoming kids book “The Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid.”

Dylan has spoken at conferences including SXSW, DMAI, and TEDxVerona about discovery, wonder, and changing nature of travel. Dylan lives in Rosendale, New York with his wife Michelle, his three year old son Finn, and new addition to the household, daughter Jean.

Neon Sign Tour – Tulsa

Rhys Martin will lead the tour of Tulsa’s neon signs.

Tulsa has a rich collection of vintage neon signs found throughout the city. The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture conducted a survey of Tulsa’s neon signs and recorded the details of 259 signs. The Meadow Gold Sign, perhaps the most iconic in Tulsa, was among the signs surveyed. No trip to Tulsa would be complete without an excursion to see these sites. Rhys Martin, a photographer, Route 66 enthusiast, and a native of Tulsa was our tour guide for this evening event. We traveled by trolley through the city to learn more about the neon signs of Tulsa and had an opportunity to photograph some of our favorites.

Field Session

The half-day field session included iconic Route 66 sites and discussions of related preservation issues The tour will began at the City-County Library and make its way through the city then on to Cahoosa, Claremore, and Foyil. We made frequent stops to look at sites including the Blue Dome, the Meadow Gold Sign, the Blue Whale, and Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park. Participants had an opportunity to photograph the sites, and discuss preservation problems and creative solutions with property owners and managers. Along the way, we passed interesting sites, structures, and landscapes. Rhys Martin, photographer and native of Tulsa, served as our field guide. He has traveled all 2,400 miles of Route 66 and loves to share his experiences.